This paper examines seasonal food price crises in Malawi. In the 2000s, Malawi experienced three episodes in which seasonal maize prices rose in 2001–02, 2004–05, and 2007–09 by 354%, 218%, and 395%, respectively. These extreme price spikes resulted from a sequential interaction of...

Both livelihoods and diversity have become popular topics in development studies. The livelihood concept offers a more complete picture of the complexities of making a living in rural areas of low income countries than terms formerly considered adequate, such as subsistence, incomes, or...

This paper compares and contrasts rural livelihoods in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi, with a view to informing rural poverty reduction policies within Poverty Reduction Strategy Plans (PRSPs). Low household incomes in rural areas of all countries are associated with low land and livestock...

Food security is of vital importance to all nations, but particularly so in developing countries. Governments worldwide are seeking to liberalize agricultural trade, and to change their role from one of controlling trade and prices. Instead these governments seek new roles in encouraging market...